Chucks use big 6th inning to beat Rafters

Posted:
Tuesday, June 21, 2011 11:42 PM EDT

Wausau - In a pitcher's duel after five innings Tuesday night, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters chances at a victory slipped away after the Wisconsin Woodchucks scored five runs in the sixth inning en route to a 9-1 win at Athletic Park.

Michael Huckabay allowed a pair of earned runs through the first five innings of his third Rafters start. Trouble waited in the sixth inning as Huckabay recorded just a single out before leaving the game with the bases loaded. Joey Wagman came into the game and allowed all three inherited runners to score while recording the final two outs.

A Rafters error in the sixth turned three of the six runs unearned in the inning, but the onslaught still had the Rafters trailing 8-1 after six innings. A tack on run off of Wagman set the final score at 9-1 as the Rafters went scoreless over their last six at bats, only notching two more hits, both in the ninth inning with two outs.

Trailing by a single run after the first, the Rafters struck for their only run of the night in the top of the third. Sam Montgomery singled with one out and went to second on a throwing error by the pitcher. With two outs Justin Jirschele ripped a double to left, plating Montgomery. The only other hit for the Rafters prior to the ninth came on a Josh Cyr single leading off the fourth inning. A double play grounder off the bat of the next batter cut Cyr down at second ending any possible threat.